Peter :

09 Mar 2011 3:06:10pm

The British monarchy are chosen purely by accident of birth and even that changed because of Wallis-Simpson.

There are no "qualifications" to be the monarch of England except having been born to the "right" parents and in the right order. (Even that may not be sufficient for Charles who may be outlived by his mother).

For those who want an hereditary monarchy, we can always establish our own here in Australia.

Identify Australia's oldest living Indigenous person, with living progeny, and make them King or Queen. And on their death their oldest surviving child takes the "throne".

Satisfies the hereditary monarchists, gives us ceremonial Australian Head of State, recognises Indigenous Australian and we all go home happy.

A somewhat flippant suggestion perhaps, but no more so than that of having an hereditary monarch that neither resides in or is a citizen of our country.

valerie yule :

26 Jan 2011 10:36:55am

Australians have a sense of humour and they are innovative.If 50% of Australians want a Republic, and 50% want a Monarchy, the democratic non-cringing solution is an Imaginary OzRoyal Family - an ongoing TV serial, whose characters also play Ozroyalty in real ceremonies and pageantry. This will suit republicans who want no expensive foreign hereditary elitism, and monarchists with a strong psychological need to enjoy a cohesive non-political multi-generational multi-cultural personal focus to the nation, a family everybody knows, with annual royal wedding, royal baby and royal amazing scandal. Salaries and costs from tourists, TV, magazines, appearance fees and royalties. The key to the OzRoyal Family is that it is Imaginary and yet it would exist - as an ongoing multimedia comedy series, while live people play the parts wherever ceremonial and pageantry would draw tourist dollars - or any dollars. Our Royal Family would have amazing adventures to satisfy our wildest dreams, upstaging anything any real-life Top People can be supposed to be doing, and it can stop the voyeurs getting their kicks out of the miseries and tabloid excesses imposed on real human beings. A cast of hundreds, with the Royal FigureHead of State elected democratically at every federal election, and a Coronation when the Royrepublic is proclaimed. Instead of voyeurism, we can have royeurism with a conscience. The Ozroyal TV characters’ cast of dozens increases with new topical relatives, each boosting an industry and patron of a worthy cause. The Royal FigureHead of State is elected democratically at federal elections, and the Ozrepublic is proclaimed at the first Coronation. A Mega-Aunt, Professor Knowles and Sir Murray Rivers already await the Ozcourt. The OzRoyal Family could start as TV or radio series, and multiply as needed. Almost anyone could be co-opted. Each Ozroyal has a hobby that boosts little-known Australian industries and crafts, and is a Patron of a Worthy Cause. Each has a different bee in its bonnet. A Tourist Attractions would include the Proclamation of the Royal Republic of Australia is proclaimed. We could enjoy flashbacks, as well as the ongoing story. Many of their adventures and revelations could be related to current issues and events, and sold to tabloids for great sums. Books, magazine articles, Australian souvenirs etc. could become flourishing industries, and boost exports. Children’s books like ‘Princess Dipsy goes Riding’ and airport steamers like ‘Under the Royal Robes’ .... The OzRoyal Family would have an assortment of sons, daughters, aunts, matriarchs, Ozdukes and Ozduchesses, Ghosts, etc. Father Ozmas and the Easter Bilby are royal-blooded. Every now and then some closet Royal is unmasked, or comes out of the skeleton cupboard. Anastasia fits in somewhere (wasn’t she a famous pig?) Anything the British Royals or the U.S. Presidents or other international figures get up

Marge :

26 Jan 2011 2:24:34pm

Regarding the Forum Republic v Monarchy. Here we go again! Not one of these unelected opinion makers can tell us WHY we would we better off by becoming a republic. Except of course "we would all feel better", "time to cut the apron strings." blah blah blah. Well, as for the furfy that an unelected person dismissed the Whitlam Government, NO, it was the elected Senate who blocked supply and wouldn't pay the bills of the out-of -control Government and followed procedure to get it dismissed. We had an election remember? And if its true that Australia is viewed as the Denmark of the South - What is wrong with that? No wonder the young arn't interested in these spoiled biased spin docters, we all know that Australia is doing very well thank you so why change it?

Ian D St G Lindsay :

26 Jan 2011 2:52:04pm

Which Commonwealth country that formerly had the Union Jack as part of its national flag, can we point to and say, " We want to be like them?" And of all those countries who have replaced Her Majesty the Queen with a Presidential position, is there one we can point to an say, " We want a man like him?" Which model of despot, tyrant, alcoholic or pocket-liner should we go for?Why do we want to change our flag? What will its replacement do for us? Will it make us stand taller? Are we not sufficiently well known already? What discernible difference will we gain from changing the flag our Servicemen served under in countless wars and other conflicts? Will they fight with a greater will than they do now and always have done? Our young men have already earned two VCs in Afghanistan: do we expect them to do even better under a 'more Australian' flag?Why is it that the only voices we hear in favour of a Republic, a President and a new 'old rag', are academics, so-called intelligentsia, politicians and PhD seekers. In this acknowledged classless country of ours, the voices of the people should be heard. They're not interested in change for change's sake. Show them the benefit of getting rid of the Queen and replacing her with a politician: explain how we will profit from having a different flag and, even then, it is likely that the answer will be "Naaahh, it ain't broke so don't fix it."

fred :

26 Jan 2011 7:49:56pm

An infuriating forum adding nothing to the debate, nor enlightening or educating the likes of me - one of the undecided. I was extremely disappointed in particular with Professor Kingsbury's ridiculing of the monarchy, I thought more highly of him than that. I do hope with the ABC's balance will have a forum with the monarchist in the near future.

John Smith :

26 Jan 2011 10:49:28pm

Dear Life Matters Team,

I live and work in North West China and continue to listen on line. I heard the programme "Yes, we're still a Monarch....." with Warwick Hadfield as the Moderator. It would have been a more balanced discussion if Greg Barns had left his 'One-eyed' view of the Monarchy in the foyer and Prof Kingsbury had read up on his jokes which fell flat. It is not inevitable that Australia will become a republic, likely maybe but not inevitable. The young are not interested in what the ARM says and therefore when the subject is raised just shrug their shoulders. The Monarchy in Europe - Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Holland, Spain etc are well liked and loved by their people.

Oh and yes I believe that becoming a republic will have no tangible benefit other than for the happy clappers, the republicans.

Ross Garrad :

31 Jan 2011 10:56:37pm

To say that European monarchies are well liked by their people misses the point. And I'm not convinced it's true in Spain, for one. But all these monarchs are citizens of their countries, and their people don't share them with anyone else. We bludge off someone else's monarchy, on the other side of the Earth. Since it's inconceivable that we would create our own monarchy, that leaves only one option for a fully independent Australia.

As for a republic having no tangible benefits, you could say the same about ditching God Save the Queen as out national anthem. How many Australians want to change back? About the same percentage that will want to reinstate the monarchy, ten years after we grow up enough to become a republic. Somewhere in the single digits for sure.

Margaret Millar :

29 Jan 2011 3:14:55pm

It is high time we became a Republic. We need to get rid of the cultural cringe. The British Royals mean nothing to many of us. They are remote quaint strangers. we must be allowed to be ourselves.Australians. A new flag is needed. The Union Jack is an insult to aboriginal people.Under it aborigines were exploited and lost their land. It is a symbol of Colonialism. Myfather fought in WW2 adnhe did not like the British flag. Let us do it..